Saint Nyx Bedros

[Saint]

Name:[/u][/i] Saint Nyx Bedros

Age:[/u][/i] Twenty-four years old

Gender:[/u][/i] Female

Species:[/u][/i] Gargoyle

Sign:[/u][/i] Vulpus

Family:[/u][/i] She had a mother, Neves Amethyst Bedros, but she died during an attack in the village where she and her family resided in. Saint is estranged from her father, Cyrek Nikolai Bedros due to various reasons, but her older sister, Jaide Lapis Bedros, does her best to keep in contact with her.

Occupation:[/u][/i] Although she has many skills and talents that others often admire her for, Saint doesn't particularly have a true occupation. She's a free-lancer of sorts who gets by easily in the world with whatever her clients wish her to do. If there's an art commission to be fulfilled then that can be easily done. If her clients wish for her to eliminate a troublesome individual then she'll complete the task without so much as another word. Or perhaps it's a bodyguard that her clients desire. If so, then she'll quietly take up the job with quiet efficiency. More often than not though, she chooses to travel the world which makes it rather difficult for those who wish to seek her out. In other words, she's a wanderer who travels from place to place and then leaves to seek out other sites to amuse herself with.

Appearance:[/u][/i] There is nothing odd about her facial features although they do give her a slight exotic appearance. Her delicate ears are slightly pointed and the left contains two piercings, connected together by the use of a small black chain. Her nose, sharp but defined, is very sensitive to most scents which although can be helpful in certain situations can also prove to be rather annoying. Thin lips, sometimes seen set in a frown or scowl, break her usual stoic mask, completing the rest of her visage. Her skin is the color of pale vanilla due to her habit of staying dormant during the day and then traveling by night. Her features have a hardened appearance about them, giving evidence to the probable hardship she's faced in her life.

Hair:[/u][/i] Saint's hair is an eclectic mix of color thanks to the traits she inherited from both parents. It is an interesting mixture of ebony and silver, with the prior taking precedence over the other, which cascades past her shoulders in silken, lustrous layers. Bangs of either color cover a portion of her right eye, leaving the other exposed, examining all around her with a cool, indifferent gaze.

Eyes:[/u][/i] Her eyes are large, the color of the palest gray, reminiscent of an approaching storm. However, like a storm, they can darken in color as well which usually occurs when the tall gargoyle is under severe stress or increasing anger. Sharp intelligence dwells within those storm-filled depths, always alert and calculating everything with practiced ease.

Height:[/u][/i] She stands at an even six feet.

Weight:[/u][/i] One hundred and eighty-seven pounds.

Build:[/u][/i] Saint has a sleek and muscular body. While her skin is soft and gentle to the touch, steel and whipcord muscles coil with menacing power. Even so, she is not overwhelmingly muscular, but rather... proportional. All of her body parts are of the right size and length which fit together with unerring precision and with a sense of solidity that speaks of long years of hard use. The overlaying shadows and shifts of her body tell of a warrior's uncompromising power and strength laying just beneath the skin. She walks with a powerful, rolling gait, but when she takes flight with her large obsidian wings, it is with great grace and agility.

Clothing:[/u][/i] The tall gargoyle is known for wearing dark clothing of various styles. However, she is often seen wearing clothing more reminiscent of a priest, carrying perhaps a cross or two around her neck or hands. She may also wear a dark cloak draped over her shoulders depending on the weather or time of day.

In battle, and with the use of her ebony spelled cards, she can transform her normal clothing and exchange them for garbs of a more protective nature. Her battle robes are made of black plush velvet and silver trim, reaching just below mid-thigh. The silver band-trimmed collar stands up just slightly around her pale neck while the detachable sleeves flow neatly down her arms, ending at her bracer-covered forearms. Beneath her robes is a black and silver chest plate, smooth but very effective in terms of protection. Her slacks, tucked neatly in to heavy boots, are covered by black metal leg guards, completing the outfit. (Slight example: i60.photobucket.com/albums/h32/Obsidian_Twilight/SaintGarbs.jpg)

Weapons:[/u][/i] Though knowledgeable of various weapons and their uses, she carries and trains only with two. Strapped to her back is a long steel sword, it's hilt often seen just over her right shoulder. When unsheathed, ebony-colored symbols can be seen along it's side. They allow Saint to use her sword as an anchor when drawing upon her dark powers and ensuring that she doesn't lose control of them. At her right side is a rapier, belted around her waist. This is the most commonly weapon used by Saint since it requires her to use the least amount of energy when disposing of a troublesome individual.. which in her case, happens quite frequently.. She only uses her steel sword in battle or when she's under strenous training.

Other:[/u][/i] Saint's large wings are as black as night and has a wing span of fifteen feet. Three wing talons perch themselves on the apex of either wing and are capable of moving and grasping objects. On some occasions, she can even use her wings as a makeshift cloak, clasping themselves together just below her neck by the use of her wing talons.

Although she prefers not to travel in the day, when the situation calls for it, she wears a mask which actually comes in two separate parts. The first is a specialized visor. Black lenses cover her pale eyes, situating itself just over her nose and extends itself to either side of her face. A silver device, attached to the visor, wraps around the back of her head, allowing it to stay firmly in place even when on the move. Thin discs protrude slightly from the device and rests just above her ears and along her temples. They allow her to determine how much sunlight enters through the dark visor with the use of her mind and also allows her to fasten or unfasten it. The second part is the actually mask itself. Jet black metal covers her mouth and nose which winds itself around her head, allowing no visible part of her face to be shown. A long slit travels near the top of the mask, allowing the bottom of the visor to then slip securely into place.

Abilities:[/u][/i] She has great ability over the powers over darkness. Saint is able to use her powers to form them into shadow-based creatures who aid in various tasks along her journey. However, their ebony forms are hazy and transparent, and at times, seem to be shifting in and out of sight. Even so, they're usually just there for her amusement, entertaining her with their little antics. With her spelled cards, she can create more solids forms of objects from her powers. With them, she can create weapons or even change the properties of an object altogether and transform it into something new.

Weaknesses:[/u][/i] Like most gargoyles, she can't see very well in daylight due to her highly-sensitive eyes. Saint, though she does train quite frequently, can also sometimes lose control of her powers especially when she manages to lose her temper. Due to an incident from her childhood days, she is also slightly claustrophobic, but that is one fear that she would prefer to keep secret. Because of it though, she can't stand being in enclosed spaces or large crowds.

Personality:[/u][/i] Saint is a reserved young woman who prefers not to share much with anyone she meets. She's blunt about most things and pessimistic about everything else. She keeps a realistic outlook life in and refuses to see what little good there is in the world around her. It's difficult for her to trust anyone completely, so she keeps a cold, hard exterior in the hopes that no one to will attempt to get close to her. Beneath the facade that she hides behind, however, is a good and compassionate person who's merely afraid of letting one in, knowing all too well the pain it could bring. Even with her tough, and at times violent, veneer still lies the person she was before.. in pieces, but still there nonetheless.

Likes:[/u][/i] Surprisingly enough, Saint sometimes likes to play devious little tricks on unsuspecting individuals to amuse herself. Of course, since she gets bored rather easily, she also likes test her intellect with challenging games or puzzles. The tall gargoyle frequently enjoys spending time with her older sister, her gryphon Lycaeon, drawing, playing her flute and, rarely, singing on clear starlit nights.

Dislikes:[/u][/i] She doesn't like dwelling in close spaces or large crowds due to her fear. Saint has also come to despise her parents for turning away from her at a time when she needed them the most. She likes to be in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere whenever she visits a town or city, so she doesn't like to be bothered by excessive talkers or annoying individuals. Although she doesn't always show it, she also dislikes humans because of past experiences with them.

Picture:[/u][/i]


Traveling Companion[/u]

Name:[/u][/i] Lycaeon

Age:[/u][/i] One hundred and twenty-one years old

Gender:[/u][/i] Male

Species:[/u][/i] Gryphon

Height:[/u][/i] Lycaeon towers over his long-time companion, Saint, by a good three feet. From his muzzle to the tip of his tail, he's about eleven and a half feet long.

Weight:[/u][/i] The dark gryphon weighs close to six hundred and eighty pounds

Build:[/u][/i] Lycaeon has a large muscular body but he is not overly bulky. His body is a blend of color. From his paws up, he has a soothing golden-tan hue laced with various shades of brown while black covers the rest of his huge frame from head to tail. Broad shoulders support his grand, arching neck and large head while long horns protrude from his skull. Piercing gold eyes, often glowing at night, calmly gaze about at the world around him. Lycaeon's muzzle contains a long, serpentine tongue and is full of strong, sharp teeth, capable of breaking even the hardest of materials. The top of his muzzle is spiked with ridges of various sizes while the bottom is lightly bearded with dark fur. Around his neck is a collar of sorts made from strong strands of rope with large, golden feathers hanging from the end of it. His powerful forelegs resemble that of a lion's just like the rest of his body while his hindlegs are more dragon-like along with his claws. His powerful tail is like that of any feline but ends in nine individual spikes which he can whip about as a weapon. Large, dark wings sprout from his back, allowing him to take flight and fly long distances alongside his companion, Saint.

Personality:[/u][/i] Lycaeon is a calm and very level-headed creature. His loyalty lies with Saint and is very protective of her. He is cautious of those he first meets and may become violent towards them if he feels that they are a threat to his mistress. For those he does trust, he puts their safety ahead of his own without a second thought. While he is fairly patient most of the time, he does have his limits and will strike out if the situation calls for it.

Picture:[/u][/i]

[Saint]

History: The Nightfall Mercenaries and were best known for their impressive battle prowess and quick-witted tactics against their opponents while their gryphon companions were known fast, but deadly, style of fighting as well as their intelligence. They were imposing figures who had a warrior's spirit and a great love for battle. Their leader, Cyrek Nikolai Bedros, was strict but considerate of the members of his group. Although his title was fairly impressive, he was never one to brag about such things, preferring to treat his comrades equally, regardless of status. That was one of the many reasons why he disliked noblemen so much. They never seemed to be able to grasp such a simple concept. The dark-haired gargoyle didn't accept very many missions from them despite the vast amounts of money they often offered. Money could be made elsewhere in his opinion, and there was always an endless amount of people other than the noblemen who were in need of his service.

It was on such an occasion that he met Neves Amethyst Evadne. She was a lone warrior of gargoyle heritage who happened to be in a vicinity of an attack on a defenseless village. Flames had been set upon the houses there and raiders ran down the villagers, attacking all who stood in their way while also capturing a bounty of women. Thinking that she yet another defenseless maiden, one of the raiders moved to capture Neves for his own greedy satisfaction. However, he never saw the sword that she had hidden beneath her cloak and he was instantly beheaded, his body still moving from his momentum as he hit the ground. Shedding her cloak, dark wings appeared on her back as pale eyes stared back at the raiders who had suddenly stopped all movement. Smiling, she adjusted her stance and manuevered the sword about in her hand as she motioned for them to come towards her. Bristling at such behavior, half a dozen men moved to attack her. She instantly met their swords with her own, easily disarming two while quickly gutting another. Placing her foot on his body, she kicked him off her sword, sending him towards his comrade. She then ducked the sword swing from the last raider before adjusting the sword in her hand. Thrusting it upwards, the point of the blade instantly buried itself into the raider's neck, spraying blood across her blade as he fell. Unfortunately, at the sight of their fallen comrades, more raiders moved to attack and, as strong as she was, she couldn't handle them all alone.

A whistle of metal and a gurgled cry could be heard from behind her and she immediately turned to see a tall, dark-haired gargoyle standing over one of the bodies of the raiders. As Cyrek looked up, his dark gaze was met with eyes the color of fog. At that moment, an instant of understanding washed over them and they immediately attacked the raiders about them simultaneously. The Nightfall Mercenaries then soared down from the dark, smoke-filled skies, killing the raiders attacking the villagers while the gryphons came forth to protect their leader and the mysterious young woman. Cyrek and Neves were back to back as the raiders still began to move towards them. As the dark-eyed gargoyle cut down yet another opponent, he caught sight of a small object coming towards Neves. He panicked momentarily when he saw the digital numbers along the side of the black, spherical object and he immediately tackled the silver-haired gargoyle from behind, causing them both to hit the ground just as the explosion went off.

Cyrek awoke later in the evening of the next day. Although he was in pain, but he couldn't help trying to sit up. As Cyrek began to observe his new surroundings, the tall gargoyle found that he was lying in a bed in one of the houses that hadn't been destroyed during the raid. As he looked down to asess the damage he received from the explosion, he saw that someone had already tended to his wounds. Before he had a chance to linger more on the thought, he heard the bedroom door open and he looked up to see Neves carrying a pitcher of water and a few medical supplies. The silver-haired gargoyle was surprised to see that he was awake, but smiled at him nonetheless. She set the items in her arms on the bedside table and proceeded to tend to Cyrek who was relieved to see that she didn't seem as badly wounded as he was. They both fell into a comfortable silence for the first few minutes, merely basking in one another's presence, but as Neves began to unwrap the bandage around his arm, she quietly began to thank him for saving her life. A larger hand then covered her own, stopping her movements, and she looked up to see Cyrek smiling at her. Within the dark depths of his eyes, she saw a great deal of respect, compassion, strength and... something else she couldn't readily identify. Before she had a chance to say anything, the taller gargoyle laughed quietly and said that no thanks were necessary.

From then on, Neves hardly ever left Cyrek's bedside other than to tend to her own needs, but over their duration together, it was obvious to all that a bond had been formed between them. Even when the taller gargoyle was well enough to walk about on his own, they still remained unseparated. Their time with one another was mostly filled with flirtaceous comments, amused laughter, and much courtship on Cyrek's part. All of which were received delightedly by a mirthful Neves. With knowing grins, the Nightfall Mercenaries spoke quietly amongst themselves about how well their leader was getting along with usually quiet, silver-haired woman. Before long, there were rumors about the two eventually marrying. Of course, never one to stay out of the loop for long, Cyrek heard about them but did nothing to reprimand his group of comrades. Why bother scolding them for merely speaking the truth? He knew from the very beginning that there was a special sort of attraction between Neves and himself. One that had slowly built up until it was far too late for either gargoyle to part ways. And so, nearly seven months after their first meeting, Cyrek finally asked Neves to marry him.

The smaller gargoyle, of course, accepted and a joining ceremony was meticulously prepared for the soon-to-be mates. It was set during the night of the new moon which was traditionally for most joined gargoyles for it would represent a new beginning for them both. The ceremony itself was very elaborate, but it was certainly one that wouldn't be forgotten by either anytime soon. As they stood before a large firepit, the village priest recited the verses of marriage as they both gently sliced the palms of their hands with a dagger, letting their blood mix into a small ornate bowl. Then they bandaged the other's wounds as the low drumming of the musicians began to increase in volume. Tentatively, Neves lifted her head up slightly to kiss Cyrek who met her halfway much to the cheers of his mercenaries. Although it was customary for a joined couple to stay and receive the blessings of their guests, both had other things on their minds. As the silver-haired gargoyle stared up at Cyrek, a half-dreamy, lustful glaze in her eyes, she smiled before whispering something into his ear. The expression on his face was absolutely priceless and Neves laughed as she proceeded to fly away, initiating the second part of the ceremony. One that would only end when her mate caught her... And that was when the real fun would begin...

The coming decades were peaceful for the two gargoyles. They had settled down in a sleepy, little village in Excaliber and now had two children to their growing family of warriors. One was their seventeen-year old daughter, Jaide Lapis Bedros and the other was their ten-year old, Saint Nyx Bedros. Jaide shared features with her mother which included her silver hair and her pale gray eyes, but she did however inherit her father's three wing talons. She was a growing beauty which was yet another trait she received from her mother and she was an individual of great intellect. Jaide had a calm soul and was rarely, if ever, angered by anything. She was the sort of individual who took all things in stride no matter how desperate a situation may turn out to be. She had the makings of a good leader and it was already decided by Cyrek, despite his mate's protests, that she would inherit his title and lead the Nightfall Mercenaries when he passed on.

Saint was a fiesty, but precocious, child who always managed to get herself in to trouble one way or another. Unlike her older sister, she shared certain traits from both parents such as her hair which was a mix of black and silver. Her pale eyes, however, was something she received from her mother alone. She preferred spending her free time with her father and his mercenaries, watching them train while her sister spent most of her time with their mother who frequently helped out the villagers. The dark-haired gargoyle loved being able to watch the warriors spar, and after months of persuasion, finally convinced her father to teach her how to use a sword. He had already been teaching Jaide, but he supposed it wouldn't hurt to teach his youngest child how to defend herself.

Both Saint and Jaide received the best of teachers and trainers since their parents thought it was best for their children to grow up to become well-rounded adults. A handful of tutors taught the two young gargoyles what was needed for their academic knowledge while another group switched out with them on certain days to teach them the basics on weaponry and strategies. Both were attentive to either lesson and showed excellent progress. While the knowledge they both obtained for academics was impressive that was where their skills began to diverge. Jaide had an obvious knack for devising strategies and while her mastery over swords and such was impressive, Saint showed greater expertise in handling weapons and was much more adept at thinking on her feet in sparring matches. This soon gave way to a small dispute between Cyrek and his the mercenaries who argued that Saint was obviously better suited to become a leader than Jaide, but Cyrek wouldn't be swayed in his decision. He explained that Jaide's level-headed nature would ensure that she wouldn't panic in battle for it would only result in casualties, and although he loved his youngest daughter dearly, he also knew how brash and stubborn she could be. And those certainly weren't the sort of attributes he was looking for in a successor.

He was later proved right about a year later. Saint had been challenged to go out to the Death Howl Pass by some of the kids of the village. Although their elders had often told them never to go to such a place because of the dangers that lurked there, Saint, however, was never one to back down from a challenge and flew over to the site immediately. When she arrived, she first noticed how desolate it seemed. The hideous howl of the wind could be heard from all around her, but that did nothing to frighten her although something inside her did tell her that something seemed dreadfully wrong. However, she merely shrugged it off as nervousness and proceeded to venture further into the Pass. After some time, the dark-haired gargoyle stumbled upon a deep canyon which she saw from behind dark lenses led down into a large pit of rocks and granite. Just as she pulled back, she felt someone shove at her from behind, and though she desperately tried to regain her balance, windmilling her arms about, she fell into the deep crevice. She heard the slight giggles and laughter from above and she suddenly realized that it all had been a trick. After that, her mind went into a total shock and she couldn't even muster to spread her wings and fly away. Instead, she fell hard against one of the sides of the canyon, sending searing pain along her back as sharp rocks tore at her wings, holding her for only a few seconds before she began descending again. The side of her head hit hard against the side of a cliff, cracking her protective mask in half, and then she felt a hot flash of liquid fire burning it's way up along her arm and leg as she hit and fell into a sunken pit of rocks. Groaning, she heard a low rumbling sound and opened her eyes just in time to see a large slab of stone falling towards her. Her eyes widened and she put her arms up to protect herself as the slab impacted the pit with a thunderous clap, sealing and trapping her inside.

When Saint hadn't returned after some time, her parents and her sister began to worry. It wasn't strange for the young gargoyle to disappear for some time before returning for whatever reason, but she had never been gone so long before. At that moment, a villager and her child burst in to their house. The little girl was crying and her mother had an absolutely outraged look on her face. Cyrek and Neves asked what the problem was, but the parent merely pushed her child closer to the three gargoyles, demanding that she tell them what she and the other children did to Saint. Still crying, the young girl managed to speak about the trick that she and the others did to the young gargoyle. Then she explained how one of the kids pushed her into the canyon when she wasn't looking and how they all saw how hurt she was as she fell into the pit. After the large piece of rock crashed down upon her, she said that they all panicked and rushed back to the village.

Cyrek and Neves were shocked by what they heard. The taller gargoyle immediately summoned his mercenaries as his mate gathered her weapons just in case they happened to encountered any bandits in the Pass. Neves told the villager to go back home and wait, but she declined. She replied by saying that it was their children's fault that Saint was injured and lost somewhere in the Pass. She and the other villagers wanted to assist in helping them find her. Cyrek seemed ready to protest, but then he paused and regarded what she was saying. There would be a better chance of finding his daughter by searching the area in numbers, however, he didn't want to risk an attack on the village if they all went. He decided that a small group of his men and the gryphons would stay behind and protect the villagers that weren't coming along with them and take any volunteers that wished to help. Just as they began to set out towards the Pass, they saw that Jaide was not among them. At a large roaring cry, they looked up to see their daughter flying ahead of them in the darkening skies alongside her golden-furred gryphon.

Jaide was absolutely furious at the children which was a rare occurance for her. It was completely understandable in her case since she had always looked out for her little sister. She knew how cruel the village children could be and it wasn't just because her sister was a gargoyle. Saint had always been somewhat different from the other kids. The girls thought she was too rowdy for her to play with them and the boys... Well, the boys found that she could beat them at just about anything they challenged her too. Even when it came to wrestling, Saint couldn't be defeated and she supposed that they resented her for that fact. So like males. If the situation hadn't been so dire, she probably would've laughed. However, she sobered up completely when her thoughts came rushing back to her little sister who she knew was treated like the outcast among the children. Saint didn't have any friends in the village. True, she got along well with herself and the mercenaries, but there was no one in her age group that she could just talk to and share secrets with. Her little sister seemed to be used to their icy looks and cold shoulders. In fact, she seemed almost resigned to them if she actually thought about it. Although she didn't have anyone to play with, Saint usually made up for it by going on little adventures or just observing whatever was about that caught her attention. Jaide had caught her one night far from the village, staring up at the stars. Although for any child Saint's age, such a thing would seem rather boring, but not for her little sister. She was curious about everything about the world around her. Although.. When she saw the look in her eyes, she felt a great heart-wrenching pain. Her little sister hid it well from others, but out here, it was different and she didn't have to hide anything from anyone anymore.. She could see the deep sadness within her sister's eyes. One that had been steadily been growing over the last few years and she knew what the cause of it was. Her strong, independent little sister was lonely and, though she didn't admit it, she was hurt because no one seemed to accept her...

Demetrius, her gryphon, cried out to her suddenly and broke her chain of thoughts. Peering over at him, she saw that they were nearing the Pass, but she could only hope that her sister had somehow managed to hold on long enough for help to arrive. Both Jaide and Demetrius circled different areas of the Pass several times before the griffin roared for her attention as he sailed down into a canyon, leaving her to follow behind. Demetrius put his beak-like muzzle to the ground, whiskers gently moving about as he sniffed the canyon floor. Creeping forward, his large, feathered feline ears twitching for even the slightest movement beneath the rocks, he began to track Saint. He soon stood next to a large slab and sniffed just under the rock before standing absolutely still. Sniffing harder the second time, he then threw back his head in a roar just as Jaide's feet touched the ground. Cursing under her breath, she and her gryphon slowly edged the slab away from the pit just enough for her to see inside it. It was pitch black and she could just make out a dark form laying sprawled out underneath the rocky prison. That sight alone gave her enough strength to move the slab completely off the pit. Quickly, she crept down beside her sister, hesitantly checking for a pulse as Demetrius chirruped worriedly beside her. At the feel of a faint flutter against her fingertips, Jaide breathed out a sigh of relief. However, her temporary moment of happiness disappeared when she saw the condition that Saint was in. Although strong by nature, a young gargoyle's body was fairly weak. The silver-haired teen feared that the damage done to her sister would leave permanent scars or lasting signs of her pain. Demetrius chose that moment to perk up and roared once again when he sensed the others heading in their direction. Jaide, on the other hand, was far too occupied with her little sister to see the elder gargoyles flying down in her direction, a stretcher and some medical supplies being carried among them.

[Saint]

History continued:[/u][/i] Saint woke up a few days later, her vision somewhat blurry from sleep and lack of use. She could see that she was back in her own room, but she did wonder how she managed to get there. The last thing she remembered was being trapped in the canyon inside a dark pit as what little air there was began to wane. As she struggled to move, shock ran throughout her body and she collapsed back against the bed in pain. The door suddenly opened and she weakly opened one eye to see her sister standing at the doorway. Jaide smiled lightly as she moved to sit down beside her on the bed, asking how she was doing. The tall gargoyle received a dry, sarcastic comment from her despite the condition she was in which caused Jaide to laugh as she gently ruffled her dark hair. Saint's smile slowly disappeared as she seriously asked her how bad her condition was. Her sister's laughter too waned as she cleared her throat, staring out the window as she quietly recited her injuries. Saint had sustained a minor concussion, a dislocated shoulder which already had been set back into place, broken ribs, various tears in her wings, and a broken arm and leg. And that wasn't even including the many bruises, cuts, and the burns on her face from temporary exposure to sunlight. Saint slumped against her pillows, defeated and somehow even more exhausted than before. Her older sister smiled softly and brushed away the bangs from her pale eyes, announcing that she had a surprise for her. At that moment, a large dark head poked its head through the open window of the room. Intelligent, golden feline eyes locked with Saint's gaze as the large gryphon rumbled a greeting to her, flicking his dark wings behind him as he sat back on his haunches. Saint's pale eyes lit up and she looked back at her sister, a silent question in her eyes which was answered with a nod.

The dark gryphon had arrived earlier just as dusk began to settle itself over the land. He was seeking work and, after hearing about the famed Nightfall Mercenaries, he sought them out. Jaide had been the first to meet him. Like her own companion, Lycaeon, as he had introduced himself as, was a being of few words, but still very wise and remarkably capable of handling himself in just about any given situation. With that thought in mind, Jaide gave him a proposition of sorts, which although as confused him at first, he readily listened to. It was to protect her little sister, and after listening to what had happened to her and the circumstances surrounding her current situation, he gladly accepted.

Jaide was overjoyed to see the smile slowly spreading across her little sister's face. Although, with their differences and what was expected from either of them, one would expect the two siblings to at least dislike one another to a degree, but that certainly wasn't the case. The silver-haired gargoyle adored her dear sister and Saint enjoyed being able to hang around her no matter what the case. Jaide knew that the kids had never taken much of a liking to Saint as they did to her, so she did whatever she could to take her mind off of them if only just to ease the loneliness that she saw every time she looked at her. Of course, with the strict regimen their father was putting her through, she had to spend less and less time with her and, now with her sister in such a critical condition, she didn't want to leave her alone. Lycaeon was the answer to her problems and now her sister finally had a friend to talk to other than herself.

Cyrek and his chosen mate chose that moment to step into the room. Neves quietly walked over to the bed to see how her youngest daughter was doing while the dark-haired male merely stood in the middle of the room, watching them. As her mother began to change her bandages, Saint could see her father shake his head slowly out of her peripheral vision. And when she looked harder, she could see the disappointment in his eyes as well. Not a single hint of concern for her well-being, but only mere disappointment. It was clear to many just who her father favored, but seeing him now, it had finally confirmed her own suspicions after years of wondering. Dropping her eyes, Saint laid back against the bed, turning her eyes away to stare out the window, past the gryphon who was watching her with sympathetic eyes. She didn't even notice her sister's worried gaze or the dark look her mother had sent her father.

The weeks of recovery did nothing at all to lighten the young gargoyle's mood. Her sister and mother came by regularly to check up on her and bring her food, but her father rarely ever came by to see her. She usually only caught a glimpse of him walking past her doorway, but other than that, he didn't bother to visit. The Nightfall Mercenaries and the gryphons did a much better job of acknowledging her than he did. They often bowed their heads to her in greeting when they passed by or made light conversation with her. Lycaeon, her newest friend, even managed to bring small gifts to her in the evening when the sun began to set or just brought her a few fruits and other foods he knew that she loved. Despite small happy moments such as those, her thoughts soon led back to her father, and she furthered slipped down into the road of depression. Even when the very village children who were responsible for putting her in such a predicament came by to apologize, it didn't seem to matter much to her anymore. She stared at them with dull eyes and then turned away to stare out the window. After seeing the hazy, look of darkness in her eyes, each now showing a dangerous glint that hadn't been evident until that very moment, it was enough to send them running back home.

Saint's post recovery hadn't faired much better either. Although her wounds were healing along nicely, she preferred to stay in her room until she was completely healed. During that time, she rarely spoke and instead began to work on other things. During that time, she took up drawing to pass up the long hours of the day. Though she was naturally right-handed, her right arm was still very delicate and couldn't be moved much without causing her pain, so she had no other choice than to use her left hand. Her drawings were sketchy at best, but with much practice, she began to improve. Impressive as they were, her artwork often depicted gloomy, dismal scenes shown in dark colors, possibly representing whatever was going on in her mind. Throughout her time spent in her own room, she created dozens of such drawings, each even more morbid than the last which caused much controversy among the mercenaries who now knew of the strained relationship between Cyrek and his youngest daughter.

When she was finally well enough to train and spar again, everything seemed to be running back on its normal course. For those who saw Saint, it was if the accident had never happened. She bore no marks or signs of injury from that day and she seemed to be as fiesty as ever. If anything, the incident only helped her to improve her already impressive skills. She became more determined and she tested the limits of her abilities at every chance, trying to exceed and expand the boundaries her body and mind had set for her. To most, it seemed that the young Saint seemed to be training in preparation of something. What that was however, was completely unknown to them.

The secret was finally revealed years later on Saint's sixteenth birthday. Throughout the last six years, the dark-haired gargoyle had become somewhat of a marvel to the residents of the village. Her arduous training had given her a sleek, firmer physique and a strength and skill that seemed to rival even Cyrek's. However, the fiesty child that they had known growing up had seemed to disappear, replacing her with a serious, young woman with hardened gray eyes. Of course, the children now turned young adults responsible for the incident years ago made certain to stay out of her path. Who knew? Saint could've possibly held a grudge against them after all these years and they weren't going to stay and find out if that was true or not. Unbeknownst to them, it wasn't them that the tall gargoyle held such bitterness for. It was her father. Her training had been a way to show him that she wasn't the disappointment he thought she was. Sadly, it was all in vain. He didn't bother to acknowledge her hard work and effort, turning a blind eye to what was her attempt to please him. Saint had finally had enough and, after much consideration, she decided there was only one other way to earn his respect.

She would challenge her father for his title..

It was a long and grueling duel. The villagers and the Nightfall Mercenaries had gathered around the two warriors and watched anxiously as sparks erupted from their blades with each strike. Neves and Jaide stood along the sidelines and they too watched with great concern in their eyes. Saint and Cyrek parted after their swords met once again and were breathing heavily as exhaustion finally began to set in after hours of a series of attacks and counter attacks. Both seemed evenly matched, but it was Saint's youth and slim, but powerful, form that proved to be Cyrek's downfall. He fell before his daughter, on his knees, his sword cast aside after a downward strike of the hilt upon his wrists. Lowering her own sword, the pale-eyed gargoyle asked that her father yield to her and surrender his title. At hearing such words, Cyrek bristled angrily as he stared up at the young woman, his own flesh and blood, that had far surpassed him in strength and skill. Snarling, he replied that he would never give up his title to a reckless, insolent, poor excuse of a warrior such as herself. Gray eyes widened in shock before quickly turning ice cold. Saint gritted her teeth angrily, turning her gaze to the ground as she finally realized that no matter what she did, he would never hold her in such high regard as he did her sister. She sheathed her sword and then headed towards her airship with the very intent of leaving the village forever. Lycaeon followed her out. The thought of working under a man such as her father didn't settle well with him. He had made a promise to Jaide that he would protect her little sister and he was never one to go against his own word. Shouts and yells called out for them to come back, but both paid them no mind. Boarding the ship, they soon rose above the village, the engine gathering power for them to take off. Looking out the side window, she saw her mother viciously arguing with her father while her sister gazed up at her with sad eyes.

At that moment, explosions fell from the sky and hit the village bellow. Chaos soon followed and Saint could hear the screams from the villagers as they ran about in panic. A low whistling told of yet another bomb falling from the sky and they all scrambled about to evade it. It shook the village as it impacted the earth and people went flying as a large flash of fire erupted from the ground. In response, the Nightfall Mercenaries quickly took up arms while the villagers quickly tried to evacuate. Saint maneuvered her airship around to try and help, but other airships glided down from the clouds. A large group of them swooped down and began attacking the village while three quickly surged forward to intercept the gargoyle. Cursing under her breath, she pulled back and flew in the other direction but the other pilots were trailing close behind her. Any attempt she made to help the villagers was met with a rain of fire which she swiftly evaded. The pilots were extremely clever however and they were able to herd her away from the village, leaving Saint no choice but to escape. However, after leading the chase for nearly an hour, they managed to hit the wing of her airship, sending her spiraling her out of control as it was sent crashing to the ground.

In the midst of the Gen Hai Forest was a young elf, barely into her adulthood, walking about, carrying a basket full of various fruit. Violet hair cascaded down her back in flowing waves as bangs of the same hue curled about her deep blue eyes. She truly was a rare beauty, but that particular visage was slightly ruined by the frown on her face. Apparently, she had gathered too many fruits and was having a rather hard time carrying them all. As she continued along her way, sharp, pointed ears perked up at the sound of rustling far off of the path she was traveling on. Though she was in a hurry, curiosity got the better of her and she went to investigate. Branches scratched at her, but Andrea was used to such things and was not bothered by them. After some time, she began to spot small droplets of blood on the ground and she began to grow worried. Was there an injured creature about? And if so, would it allow her to approach it without attacking her? Determined to at least try, she pushed forward from the bushes, however, an uprooted branch stood in her path and she stumbled slightly. Two fruits flew out of her basket and into the shadows of the tree that stood in the center of the clearing she now stood upon. Muttering about her clumsiness, she straightened herself and looked up only to gasp at what she saw.

Lying slumped against the tree was a young woman, about her age, in rather poor condition. Strands of ebony and silver covered her face and the visor she wore. The right side of the visor was completely missing and the left bore cracks that were slowly falling to the ground. From what she could see, her eyes were closed but a dry trail of blood ran from her head down over her eyelid, forming several different rivulets before stopping along her jawline. Bruises covered the left side of her face and there was evidence of smudges of dirt there. A dark, tattered cloak covered her lightly armored form which was lined with dents and tears in the clothing that she had on underneath. Though slightly hidden, Andrea could see the hilt of a sword poking out of the cloak and she knew at once that the woman before her was a warrior. She did wonder how she came to be in the forest, but at the moment, the best thing that she could do was to help her in any she could.

As she stepped forward, a pale gray eye suddenly opened and she froze in place, seeing the danger that lurked within its stormy depths. She was surprised however when it changed its sight towards the two fruits on the ground laying beside one of her slack-clad legs. Easing the cloak away from her body, the dark-haired warrior reached out with an arm smeared with dry blood and picked them up. Gazing at them momentarily, she looked up slowly, holding them out for the young elf. As the shock left her system, she smiled and moved closer to the other young woman. Taking the fruits from the offered hand, she set them back into the basket. The warrior then shifted back into place and closed her eyes, settling down to rest once more. Andrea frowned at this, wondering who could've hurt her so. Knowing that she couldn't just leave her there, she tentatively reached out to touch the other's forearm, causing the pale-eyed female to glance at her in question. She smiled to try and settle any unease the other may have fad and gently pulled her to her feet before leading her out of the clearing. However, the dark-clad warrior stopped in her tracks, throwing off Andrea's momentum as she nearly fell. Strong arms encircled her waist and she looked up to see that the other was looking down at her. A gray orb flickered over to the fruit basket that had been left by the tree before resting back on her. Laughing, she replied that she would come back later to get them, saying that getting her wounds checked was much more important. With yet another tug, she led the young warrior out of the clearing and began to head towards Isalvia.

Saint drew quite a bit of eyes when she and Andrea first entered the city, mostly due to her tall height and the her somewhat haggard appearance. A few of the inhabitants asked the young elf what had happened to her, and soon enough, she felt the wounded warrior tense behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she could see how nervous she seemed if the constantly shifting eyes and clenched jaw were any indication. Pulling away from the citizens of the city, still gently pulling Saint behind her, she promised she would explain later as they both quickly began to walk to her residence. After getting the tall warrior a robe, some spare clothing and some towels, she took her into the guest room where there was a bathroom for her own personal use. Andrea told her that she should take a shower first and then take care of bandaging her wounds when she was done. Nodding, Saint went inside while the young elf went to prepare some food for her guest.

After some time, Andrea walked back into the room with a tray in her hands when she spotted Saint coming out of the bathroom. She was dressed in the slacks that she had given her and she was busy drying her hair with a towel, but she wasn't wearing a... The elf's thoughts trailed off slightly before she finally snapped out of them as pale gray eyes turned to her, catching her staring. They blinked at her quizzically before an elegant eyebrow arched in question. Blood rushed up her neck before reaching her cheeks, painting them a vibrant shade of red. She spluttered once before her blue eyes suddenly rolled up into the back of her head as she collapsed to the floor, sending the contents of the tray flying everywhere. Confusion settled into the gargoyle's eyes as she looked at the unconscious elf and then down at herself. If anything, no one could say that Saint was shy about her body.. With a sigh, she walked over to the violet-haired female, delicately avoiding the splattered remains of the meal on the floor, and picked her up in her arms, placing her on the bed. As she stared down at the odd elf, the only thought going through her head at the moment was how interesting her life had suddenly turned out to be..

The months passed by and, during that time, Saint and Andrea had grown increasingly close. Because of the friendship that they had forged, she had also grown used to the easy and peaceful lifestyle in Isalvia. The citizens took to her well and were very friendly, welcoming her with open arms. That was one of the many things that she enjoyed in the city, one that she rarely received in her village in Excaliber, and for that, she was eternally grateful. To show her appreciation for such hospitality, she often helped Andrea or the other elves with gathering fruits and vegetables in the forest or aiding them with other tasks which required her great strength. However, what she enjoyed the most was merely spending time at home with Andrea where they could quietly indulge themselves in one other's presence. Life was good and Saint felt that she could be content with her new life, satisfied with the fact that she was finally accepted for who she was. And all would've been well if other matters hadn't been brought to her attention..

Lycaeon had arrived in a flutter of wings and roars, causing slight confusion among the residents of Isalvia. He and Saint had been separated when her airship had exploded while still in mid-air. The dark gryphon had found himself on the outskirts of Tyrande, injured but otherwise fine. The dark-haired warrior was nowhere to be found, but he swore that he would do whatever it took to find her again. However, he later stumbled upon something else that could very well change her life forever.. The long months of searching had turned up little about the whereabouts of Saint until he received some information that there was a gargoyle living in a peaceful city in the Nature Realm. As he flew about, he saw a familiar head poke itself out of a doorway and his eyes lit up as he landed down beside her, telling her of the news he had.

Saint frowned, reluctant to leave the new life that she had made in Isalvia, but she knew that that was selfish of her. She was, however, curious as to what had happened to her family during the siege upon the village, so she left the next morning with her gryphon companion, promising a worried Andrea that she would return. Little did she know that she would later begin to regret those very words..

During the next few weeks, she ventured across the various realms to learn what had happened after the siege. The village of her birthplace had been all but destroyed and nearly all the original villagers had perished. When she asked what had become of the Nightfall Mercenaries, one survivor said that most had survived the incident, but they were in a complete uproar over her father after what had happened at the duel. They disapproved of the spiteful words that he spat to his own daughter and, furious with his overall behavior, they decided that enough was enough. His second-in-command, a male gargoyle, slightly younger than Cyrek, had challenged her father for the title and won. He and the rest of the mercenaries left the destroyed village, but they would not permit Cyrek to come with them. Ashamed of his defeat, the former leader flew away, never once looking back. Saint nodded to herself, feeling slightly satisfied at that particular thought. Thinking of her father soon led her to ask what had happened to the rest of her family. The old woman said that her sister had been caught in one of the explosions. While she had done a fairly good job of protecting herself, her eyes had sustained some damage and she was gradually going blind because of it. Although Jaide was to be the next leader of the Nightfall Mercenaries, she stepped down, knowing that her injury could only hold them back. She left, along with her gryphon companion Demetrius, but where she later relocated to was unknown. Although she was shocked at the news of her sister, she was glad that she was alive. However, when she went to ask what had happened to her mother, she saw the old woman turn her head away from her. She was then informed that her mother had died in the first explosion that hit the village..

Distraught, she and Lycaeon soon left to return to Isalvia. However, when they began to reach the city's outskirts, she saw that the houses and trees along the outer perimeter had been burned and destroyed. Quickly, she flew towards Andrea's residence, but she was relieved to see that it was still in tact. Landing, she opened the door and saw that everything was still as neat and clean as ever. Nothing at all seemed out of order. When she called for Andrea, she received only in return. Her brows furrowed and she was about to call her name again when another elf walked through the doorway. As she looked over her shoulder and saw the sympathetic look in his eyes, her heart sunk. The male elf asked that she sit down first, but she declined. She folded her arms over her chest as she stood in a rigid stance, bracing herself against something that would hurt her very much. At first, she began to listen, but as she did, she caught only mere fragments of words as her mind began to tune out on the conversation.. Airships.. explosions.. screaming.. children.. how Andrea tried valiantly to protect them.. and how she also died in the process..

The very next night, Saint wandered off and settled herself down on a grassy knoll while Lycaeon sat under one of the trees, resting but also giving the gargoyle distance as well. At the sound of a light flutter of wings and the sound of footsteps, he growled softly, baring his fangs, but when he saw Jaide and Demetrius step off from the bushes, he immediately stopped. From what he could see, the silver-haired gargoyle now wore a specialized sort of visor for her now damaged eyes. Although it was fairly dark out, he knew that Jaide's world would eventually be nothing but darkness and perhaps that was exactly what she was preparing herself for. Demetrius padded over to the other gryphon, growling a greeting while his companion went to sit by her little sister who sat with her knees against her chest and her head against her forearms.

Jaide sighed softly, feeling the pain rolling off the younger gargoyle in waves. At first she knew not what to say. How could she explain to her sister that life often didn't go the way one planned it to? How could she tell her that there was no greater pain than losing a loved one? When one put themselves in a relationship, intimate or not, there are always risks to be involved. The other individual's actions and words meant more, but they could also have the potential of hurting more as well. She spoke up to say that it wouldn't always be like this, but her sister picked her head up from her forearms and looked over at her, causing her breath to catch from the unshed tears and complete anguish in her eyes. Her heart then went out to her sister when she heard the next few words that would change the little sister that she knew forever..

"Never.. I'm never doing that ever again.."

[Daliah]

*cheers happily* Wow! You really have out done yourself. Very, very excellent and a wonderful character! I totally approve and once Kri gets back from her little trip today she'll probably approve too! Very awesome all around! *throws confetti in celebration for your completion of the profile*

[Kokitsu]

Wow... you amaze me, Nightshade -^ ^- As always, absolutely beautiful. Detailed, well-written, beyond fully developed...I'll move this real quick and you can start posting.